Dependent variable, key independent variable, and control factors
The main dependent variable in ‘The Effect of Country Music on Suicide’ study is the suicide rate. Stack and Gundlach explain that the suicide rate is the “number of suicides per 100,000 people” (213). Changes in the dependent variable are influenced by other variables. The study has other minor dependent variables such as white suicide rates, black suicide rates, gun purchases, and divorce rates. Country music has an impact on the occurrence of these minor dependent variables (Stack and Gundlach 214).
The key independent variable in the study is country music airtime. Stack and Gundlach (213) explain that country music airtime is measured by the length of time that a group listens to country music. It is the number of hours that a group is exposed to country music.
The researchers use the Southern region as a control group. They check whether suicide rates differ between the Southern region and non-Southern regions (Stack and Gundlach 214). They use the Southern region as a control group because it is associated with country music. They also control other factors that are associated with suicide such as divorce rates, poverty, and the Southern location.
Null hypothesis and directional hypothesis
The null hypothesis suggests that there is no significant difference between suicide rates in groups that develop a country music subculture and those that do not develop a country music subculture (Stack and Gundlach 212).
The directional hypothesis suggests that suicide rates are higher in groups that are exposed to country music for a longer period than those that have less exposure to country music. Stack and Gundlach claim that “we suggest that country music fans form a subculture that reinforces a suicidal mood” (212).
Units of analysis
The selected cities form one of the units of analysis (Stack and Gundlach 213). The other units of analysis are blacks, whites, and families (Stack and Gundlach 214). Southern and non-Southern are other groups that form units of analysis. The total numbers of units of analysis are 6. They include cities, whites, blacks, families, Southern, and non-Southern.
Science of politics in application
The researchers have used political theory by analyzing what previous qualitative research studies have proclaimed about country music. They acknowledge that there is no previous study that quantitatively addresses the problem. They also use behavioral studies such as psychological findings in the literature review (Stack and Gundlach 212).
The researchers have been able to compare the effect in regions according to comparative politics. They have compared the effects in the Southern region to those in the non-Southern regions (Stack and Gundlach 214). They have compared the effect on blacks to that on whites (Stack and Gundlach 215). They have also compared the effect of country music to fictional suicide stories.
The researchers have pointed out the role that public administration can play. They have isolated the impact of opportunity factors from the effect of country music. Examples of opportunity factors are gun possession, and poverty (Stack and Gundlach 214). Opportunity factors can be controlled through government policy.
An example of ecological fallacy
Ecological fallacy would occur if the researchers use the findings in groups to make conclusions about a person. For example, if a person listens to country music his/her suicide risk increases. In a similar case, making conclusions that a person listening to country music for long hours is likely to commit suicide is an ecological fallacy. The right conclusion is that groups in the country music subculture have a high suicide risk than those that do not belong to the subculture (Stack and Gundlach 215).
Works Cited
Stack, Steven, and Jim Gundlach. “The Effect of Country Music on Suicide.” Social Forces 71.1 (1992): 211-218. Print.